Hello!
So today I can officially cross off number 6 off of my list! I volunteered at the U of I's study abroad session for US students going to England.
It was so much fun! We had to wear bright orange T-shirts (of course, it's the school colour!) and stand at the front of a large group of anxious students and answer their many questions.
It was so interesting to see preparation for travel and studying abroad from the other side, as it were. Of course a lot of the questions were similar to the ones I also had plaguing me before I arrived on the shores of the Land of the Free.
But what was most interesting for me was actually answering these questions. Being asked direct questions about your own culture and then attempting to clearly advise someone else on how to navigate this system was illuminating for yourself, since it caused you to be reflective and question your own ways.
I also met a couple of lovely girls who will be studying next semester at my University, it was so nice to meet them and to feel able to help them with their questions in their preparations!
For the first time, I think ever, I actually didn't feel nervous about standing in front of a large group of people and talking! I know I've done it plenty of times before, but there's always been that niggle in the pit of my stomach. Today however that niggle was absent, and was replaced with calmness, I really do think the relaxed attitude of some of the American students I've got to know has rubbed off on me... WIN.
Anyway, here is some photographic evidence of my volunteering... also known as silly poses.
C.
So today I can officially cross off number 6 off of my list! I volunteered at the U of I's study abroad session for US students going to England.
It was so much fun! We had to wear bright orange T-shirts (of course, it's the school colour!) and stand at the front of a large group of anxious students and answer their many questions.
It was so interesting to see preparation for travel and studying abroad from the other side, as it were. Of course a lot of the questions were similar to the ones I also had plaguing me before I arrived on the shores of the Land of the Free.
But what was most interesting for me was actually answering these questions. Being asked direct questions about your own culture and then attempting to clearly advise someone else on how to navigate this system was illuminating for yourself, since it caused you to be reflective and question your own ways.
I also met a couple of lovely girls who will be studying next semester at my University, it was so nice to meet them and to feel able to help them with their questions in their preparations!
For the first time, I think ever, I actually didn't feel nervous about standing in front of a large group of people and talking! I know I've done it plenty of times before, but there's always been that niggle in the pit of my stomach. Today however that niggle was absent, and was replaced with calmness, I really do think the relaxed attitude of some of the American students I've got to know has rubbed off on me... WIN.
Anyway, here is some photographic evidence of my volunteering... also known as silly poses.
C.
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